Comme des Garçons for H&M Madness Hits Tokyo

Hang on to your chapeaus -- Comme des Garçons for H&M has arrived! Well, in Japan at least. The monumental fashion collaboration debuted Saturday in Tokyo in conjunction with the opening of a new Harajuku H&M boutique. Designboom turned me on to a British Vogue video of the opening day chaos, as well as interviews with fashion heavyweights about the uniqueness and precedent set by the collection. And talk about some seriously dedicated fans. Exceedingly stylish Japanese young things captured on camera talk about waiting in line to see the much-anticipated collection (some of whom camped out days in advance and suffered through wind and rain in order to get their hands on Rei Kawakubo’s stylish duds).

The video likewise features some great commentary from fashion photographer and icon Peter Lindberg, who snapped the Comme des Garçons/H&M campaign’s advertisements and muses on why all the girls in his office shop at the Swedish retailer (“Probably because I don’t pay them enough”), as well as the Daily Telegraph’s Hilary Alexander talking about why the collection is so sensational (Kawakubo’s press shyness and appeal to fashionistas who prefer their clothes served with a side of intellect included). It’s also worth watching if you’re looking to get amped up for the line’s stateside debut this Thursday, November 13 (and, since you’re neither Nicky Hilton nor Katie Holmes, it will likely provide some much-needed motivation if you’re considering braving what are sure to be some lengthy opening-day lines). Until then, good luck figuring out which two items (H&M is instituting a two-garment purchase limit) you’ll be swooping up once inside.